Chelsea Arritt, JDR instructor, has some big news that’s making an impact on our schedule at Just Dance Roanoke. Instead of us delivering the news, we’ll let her share her next exciting adventure with all of you!

To all my Dancing Divas and JDR Dance Family,

I have some exciting news to share with you! As many of you may already know, I have been accepted into an accelerated nursing program at Jefferson College of Health Science. This has been a life long goal of mine and I’m so excited to have the opportunity I have always dreamed of and have worked so hard toward.

Here’s the sitch…with this added workload, I am unable to continue to teach classes at JDR as part of the weekly schedule. My last class at JDR for the time being will be Thursday, July 20th at 7:15p. I sincerely hope that you’ll come and jam with me one last time before I dive into books, exams and practicals! I’ve got loads of friends coming and I’ll be playing my favorite songs from the last 4 years.

Don’t worry, this isn’t goodbye forever. That’s why it’s not my “last class” but a “Celebration Party”! Just because you don’t see my name on the weekly schedule doesn’t mean you won’t see me at the studio! I’ll need the study breaks and will be dancing under the disco ball next to you in class, sharing the stage with my JDR girls and subbing when the opportunity arises and my workload isn’t insane.

I’m so thankful for the opportunity to have you dancing with me for the last four years and I appreciate all of the support and enthusiasm you have all shown towards my classes and to each other here at JDR.

xo,

Chelsea

PS- If you haven’t already, you can keep up with me on Instagram @chelsea_xo7 and be sure to follow us on @JustDanceRke so I can share some of my favorite JDR dance moments over the last 4 years as we lead up to my Thursday night party!

Welcome to “The Beat”, your go-to to keep up with all things JDR. We’ll try our best to keep it up every month or so and keep things brief so you can get the Down Low on all the Disco Ball Drama, from closed business days, blog updates, special events and classes and new songs!

FEEDBACK:

And no, not like when we grab the mic on the new sound system. We need and want yours. Take our survey and tell us all the things you love and think we could improve on at Just Dance Roanoke, and you could be eligible to win an Apple Watch! Yes. This is real.

Anyone who fills out the survey is entered to win.

Give us a testimonial and allow us to include your name, 2 chances! Eeeek!

Take Burn or Sweat? Fill out that section and allow us to use your name, win 3 chances! Oh yeah!

Ever heard of Galentine’s day? If so, chances are high that you’re a Parks & Recreation fan, but even if you don’t know who Leslie Knope is, you should still be psyched to celebrate i! Click here for a bit of background just in case you want some.

We love the idea of this holiday so much, we’ll be celebrating our gal pals all week long!

Galentine’s Week Scoop:

LOADS OF INSTRUCTORS

The instructor team will be partnering up all week long to make sure the energy is through the roof, your gal pals can see breakdowns and levels easier, and mostly because it’s way more fun when more instructors are there!

NEW FRIENDS FREE

Now here’s YOUR part, you bring your friends who you’ve been begging to come to the studio, and they take their first class for FREE! Yep, you read that right, FREE!

Here’s what you and your kittens need to know:

Offer only good for first time dancers. (If you’ve been to another “free” class at the studio, that counts…sorry, but still come visit!)

We really hate to close. Ever. But we had to put a policy in place for these events with the safety of our staff and instructor team in mind.

If BOTH Roanoke City and Roanoke County are cancelled or on a 2 hour delay, there will be NO 5:30a Wake n’ Shake Classes. We will evaluate the weather and let you know by 8a if we are open or not for 9:30a class.

If just Roanoke City or Roanoke County is closed or on a 2 hour delay, check the app or online schedule for details. We will make the call for 5:30a class by 4:30a. We will make the call for 9:30a class by 8a.

If dangerous weather breaks mid-day or over the weekends, please check our online schedule for any other future potential cancellations.

Welcome to “The Beat”, your go-to to keep up with all things JDR. We’ll try our best to keep it up every few weeks and keep things brief so you can get the Down Low on all the Disco Ball Drama, from closed business days, blog updates, special events and classes and new songs!

Holiday Schedule

Christmas Eve Dance Party

New Years Day

The Mannequin Challenge has taken over social media as the newest viral video trend. Athletes, politicians and celebrities have been posting their videos for the past month. The JDR instructor team tried to give it a shot at our meeting this week. Shout out to Membership Services Director, Morgan Jessee for being our photog!

Welcome to “The Beat”, your go-to to keep up with all things JDR. We’ll try our best to keep it up every few weeks and keep things brief so you can get the Down Low on all the Disco Ball Drama, from closed business days, blog updates, special events and classes and new songs!

BACK TO TWERK: September 6-October 9th

This week we kicked off the “Back to Twerk” challenge! This is a great way to help hold yourself accountable during the start of a stressful time of year, Back to School.

The more you dance, the better chance you have to win prizes and SAVE on your next class pass.

Fall Schedule Changes

It’s back to school and back to work not only for the kiddos, but also for the JDR Instructor family. This means changes in our schedule.

Be sure to check out our new class: Just Dance: The Breakdown. Amanda will be breaking down a one of the newest JDR Jams each Wednesday from 6:00-6:30p, move by move. This class is FREE and a great way to learn not only how to feel more confident in your movement, but also get a better workout.

Also, give a warm welcome to our newest official instructors, Danica and Kailey. They have put in over 100 hours of training with Just Dance, AFAA and Zumba Fitness and are ready to rock the stage!

When I opened the studio, nearly 4 years ago (so hard to believe), it was my goal to create a safe space for not only for a fun fitness space, but also for an affordable fitness space as well. I modeled our pricing based on the rates of local facilities and a pricing structure from my former dance fitness job in Charlotte in 2008.

Due to inflation and rising overhead, we are unable to absorb these costs without making a slight increase to our class pass pricing. Our pricing increase will take place beginning on October 1st.

While the prices of passes are increasing, we are extending the time frame in which they are good, all passes will now be valid for 180 days, as opposed to the current 90 day window.

Thank you for supporting Just Dance Roanoke, your local home for dance inspired fitness. We value your commitment over the last 4 years and hope to for many years to come.

Back to Twerk Challenge: Tuesday, September 6th- Sunday, October 9th

Summer is over and school is back in session! This time of year can be challenging with routine changes, kids, students and teachers returning to school and all the fall activities kicking into action.

Looking for something to hold you accountable? BACK TO TWERK CHALLENGE!

For 30 (ish) Days, we challenge you to get to the studio as many days as possible. It’s not about the volume of classes that you take, it’s more about the work (and twerk) that you’re putting into those classes! We’ve got some great prizes to incentivize you to get back to the studio and into your fall fitness routine!

Meet Chris! A 500 class club member, lover of Just Burn (and Just Sweat) classes, and JDR Instructor Kelly’s cousin, Chris has been a loyal Just Dance Roanoke member since the summer of 2014. He’s proof that, yes, men enjoy JDR classes too! You can always find Chris socializing in the lobby before and after class with the many friends he’s met at JDR.

Who or what brought you to your first class at JDR?

My wonderful cousin Kelly McDow a.k.a. Pepper. She had been asking me for a year to come try a Just Burn class.

What is your favorite JDR event you’ve attended?

JDR’s 3rd Birthday Party and Party in Pink.

Favorite piece of JDR swag you own?

The first JDR thing I ever had – a white Just Dance Roanoke tank.

Favorite song/genre to dance to in class?

I lean towards hip-hop but anything with a good beat that I can get into: rap, electronic, retro-rock, Michael Jackson…

Anything else you’d like the JDR family to know about you?

Going to the studio for a Burn class, I had no idea what Zumba was and I couldn’t dance. I started in the back row with a two step and now I’ve moved to the front row. I’ve gained a lot of confidence dancing at JDR. The awesome instructors and participants are like family and constantly encourage and support one another.

INTERVIEWED BY MORGAN JESSEE, JUST DANCE ROANOKE MEMBER SERVICES DIRECTOR